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“You’ll never sing that, champions of Europe,” was chanted through the stadium as Nottingham Forest supporters celebrated a further result against Malmö. A great deal has occurred since Francis's decisive header secured the European Cup in the year 1979, but Forest still cherish those glorious moments. Similarly, significant shifts have taken place in the weeks since the manager took charge, with Forest looking refreshed and securing a comfortable win thanks to goals from Kalimuendo, Ryan Yates, and Nikola Milenkovic, enhancing their hopes of advancing in the Europa League.

Building Steam with Another Straight Win

For Forest, this result – against a Swedish side that had not played for almost three weeks after ending sixth in their home competition – marked a third straight triumph across all competitions and added to the momentum generated from the previous week's stunning victory at Liverpool. While this match was a reminder of Forest’s historic success in spirit, the game itself was free of any real tension or nerves.

This was an occasion filled with nostalgia, an longed-for reunion and the third meeting between the sides since the European Cup final 46 years ago.

Forest fully embraced the history, honoring the legends of 1979 by providing them, along with their visiting counterparts, the VIP welcome. 13 members of the Malmö's team from then were also present. Both teams enjoyed a meal together before the kick-off. Forest legends and company were given a rousing reception when they gathered on the pitch 15 minutes before kick-off, and a typically impressive tifo was shown in the Trent End.

Remembering History

“30th May 1979, Robertson delivered the ball from the left,” read half of a large banner, in block capitals. While no one needed reminding of what happened next, the remaining section was revealed as the squads came out from the dressing rooms. “And there’s Francis,” it continued. Another stunning display showed Brian Clough watching proceedings beside his assistant Taylor on a dugout at the Olympiastadion.

Dominance from the Start

So, Forest had drunk in those beautiful recollections, but what about the performance on the night? It was strong, too. They were in complete control from the moment Kalimuendo whistled an effort wide inside two minutes and built a two-goal advantage by the half-time interval. Domínguez sent an early header off target and then Zach Abbott, on his first European start, tried his luck.

It felt fitting that Yates, who came to Forest aged eight, made the first dent in the visitors' defense captained by their own academy product skipper, Jansson, formerly of Leeds United and Brentford FC. The home defender Milenkovic saw a cross deflect off a opponent and into the path of the midfielder, who finished right-footed from the edge of the box to register his maiden strike since last March.

Another Strike Seals Dominance

Yates was implicated in the team's next goal on the brink of half-time, too, his free header saved by Malmö’s shot-stopper Melker Ellborg but Kalimuendo poised to tap in the loose ball from close range. James McAtee, the playmaker handed a rare start and just his second outing since the autumn, was the catalyst, lofting a perfect ball towards his teammate at the far post.

A minute earlier, Callum Hudson-Odoi driven shot was turned aside off Malmö defender Rösler, the son of ex- Manchester City forward Uwe Rösler, and an unmarked Milenkovic also earlier had a powerful header smartly repelled by the keeper, who was back in place of the former Aston Villa goalkeeper Olsen.

Malmö’s Struggles

This was the Swedish side's first match since the Swedish Allsvenskan ended on November 9th, and they struggled to match the home team's intensity. Forest extended the lead to three when Milenkovic applied the finishing touch after his defensive colleague Murillo kept alive a corner. The captain had a shot stopped, but the Serbian centre-back Milenkovic feasted on the rebound.

The home side then pushed for more, with Hudson-Odoi dinking a effort on to the crossbar before Ibrahim Sangaré sent an optimistic effort wide from 30 yards. It was one of those nights. The manager, mindful of Sunday’s league game here against Brighton & Hove Albion, made seven changes from the team that stunned the Reds at Anfield recently, when they additionally netted three goals, though he called on Elliot Anderson, Dan Ndoye and further fresh legs midway through the final period.

Hiccup-Free Evening for Forest

It proved a hiccup-free evening for Forest. Dyche could take off Murillo with the match long since sewn up and subsequently brought on 19-year-old full-back Jimmy Sinclair for his senior bow. Dyche discussed the club legends providing “valuable insights” at weekly get-togethers and, nearly fifty years on, the current crop showed they are capable of a few nuggets of thrills, too.